Going to School - Ir a la Esquela

Richard Cohen's film, Going to School ~ Ir a la Esquela, shines light on the treatment and segregation of students with disabilities. One of the topics that struck me was when we see Ruben's mother going to an IEP meeting. I am assuming the woman she is speaking to is Sonia because that is who's office they are meeting in. Sonia does not seem to know what the meeting is for, and no one bothered to inform Ruben's mother that his teacher, a key member of the IEP team was out for the day!

        Sonia: "The I.E.P. I have is for assisted technology. That is the reason they called you, right?"
        Mom:  "That and the evaluation too."
        Sonia:  "What do you want to do mam? Do you prefer another appointment?"
        Mom:  "I prefer to meet with all the people who should be here."

HELLO!!! Doesn't that go without saying?!?!
I have so many questions!

Where is the principal? Why did the technology woman leave if that was what the meeting was originally intended for? If obtaining a report from her was going to take several days, why was that not completed prior to the scheduled meeting? What were they planning to discuss then? Why did the nurse not know where the meeting was going to be held? If Ruben is having increased secretions and requires additional assistance, why would Sonia think it would be acceptable to have him continue on the bus for the next four weeks without assistance? Why is everything that is being said not being translated for the mom? How can she advocate for her son properly if she doesn't even have all of the information? 

It bothered me to see how segregated some of the special education students were. In the video, we see a teacher explaining that people only pass through the special education hall when they are coming in or going out of the building. Richard Cohen states, "There is a tendency to think of special education as a place, rather than services." One of the mothers responds, "No. Services. Because you can give those services virtually anywhere." Inclusion needs to be normalized. 

The video ends with this quote: "The promise of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act will become a reality when parents know their rights and exercise them." That is incredibly true.